UK Covid cases lowest in six MONTHS as PM prepares to end rules TOMORROW
DAILY Covid cases are the lowest for six MONTHS as Boris Johnson prepares to end the latest restrictions TOMORROW.
A total of 25,696 people in Britain tested positive in the past 24 hours, with a further 74 deaths.
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The last time Covid cases were lower was August 10 last year, when 23,510 infections were reported in a 24-hour period.
Today's figures bring the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 18,605,752.
And the tragic death toll in Britain has now reached 160,581.
Among those who tested positive today is Her Majesty The Queen, who contracted the virus at the age of 95.
Palace officials say she will still perform “light duties.”
It comes as Boris Johnson is set to announce an end to self-isolation rules on Monday.
He will withdraw all pandemic regulations restricting public freedoms in England as part of his Living With Covid plan.
And the Prime Minister could reportedly introduce the new rules from Thursday.
Ministers said future variants are expected to be similar to Omicron in terms of being milder than early strains.
The free lateral flow and PCR Covid tests will also end soon according to a timetable that the Prime Minister will set out in his announcement on Monday.
However, free testing is likely to continue to be available for the most vulnerable, including the elderly.
Covid latest:
Mr Johnson said ahead of his announcement: “Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we must learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms.
'We have built strong protection against this virus over the past two years through the rollout of vaccines, testing, new treatments and the best scientific understanding of what this virus can do.
“Thanks to our successful vaccination program and the huge number of people who have come forward to get their jab, we are now in a position to set out our plan for living with Covid this week.”
And on BBC One's Sunday Morning Programme, the Prime Minister said he wanted to encourage 'personal responsibility' rather than state diktats.
CASE BY CASE
Mr Johnson said: “I'm not saying you can throw caution to the wind completely. Covid remains dangerous if you are vulnerable and if you have not been vaccinated, but we need people to feel much more confident and go back to work.
“We've reached a stage where we think you can shift the balance away from state mandate, away from banning certain courses of action, enforcing certain courses of action, in favor of encouraging personal responsibility.
“I really want our country to get back on its feet.”
Despite the change in restrictions, passenger locator forms will remain in place for those arriving in Britain, it is reported.
The forms may be deleted later in the spring.
Passenger locator forms were simplified earlier this month for fully vaccinated travellers, who now only need to confirm their jab status, travel history and contact details.
Travelers must complete the form before arriving in Britain. Unvaccinated travelers must also provide proof of a negative test.
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